Born December 3, 1960 in Syracuse, New York, but considers Steamboat Springs, Colorado to be his hometown. Married to the former Mary Drake Young of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. They have three children. He enjoys mountain biking, basketball, skiing, weight lifting, running, wood working and spending time with his family. His parents, Stanley and June Swanson, reside in Boise, Idaho. Her parents, Chan and Martha Young, reside in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

EDUCATION:

Graduated from Steamboat Springs High School in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, in 1979; received a bachelor of science degree in engineering physics from the University of Colorado in 1983, and a master of applied science in computer systems from Florida Atlantic University in 1986, and a doctorate in computer science from Texas A&M University in 1998.

Prior to coming to NASA, Steve worked for GTE in Phoenix, Arizona as a software engineer working on the real-time software of telephone system multiplexer/demultiplexers.

NASA EXPERIENCE:

In 1987, Steve joined NASA as a systems engineer in the Aircraft Operations Division of JSC working on the Shuttle Training Aircraft. The Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA) is a complex airborne shuttle simulator, which models the flight characteristics of the Shuttle from 35,000 ft. to main gear touchdown. In 1989, Steve also became a flight simulation engineer on the STA. During his time with the STA, Steve worked on the improvement of the STA's navigation and control systems and the incorporation of a real-time wind determination algorithm. In May of 1998, Steve was selected as an Astronaut Candidate and started training in August of 1998. Astronaut Candidate Training includes orientation briefings and tours, numerous scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in Shuttle and International Space Station systems, physiological training and ground school to prepare for T-38 flight training, as well as learning water and wilderness survival techniques.
Following a period of training and evaluation, Steve will receive technical assignments within the Astronaut Office before being assigned to a space flight.

NASA Group 17 - 1998 Requirement: pilot, engineer, and scientist astronauts for space shuttle flights. Nickname: The Penguins. Originally called the Dodos by the Sardines, after an extinct flightless bird; they renamed themselves after a flightless bird that eats fish... More...

Associated Flights

STS-117 Crew: Sturckow, Archambault, Forrester, Swanson, Olivas, Reilly. Final major step in assembly of the ISS truss and power-generating solar array segments. The S3/S4 Truss and its solar arrays were delivered and installed. More...

ISS Finally completed in 2010 after a torturous 25-year development and production process, the International Space Station was originally conceived as the staging post for manned exploration of the solar systrem. Instead, it was seemed to be the death knell of manned spaceflight. More...

EVA STS-117-2 - .
Crew: Forrester; Swanson. EVA Type: Extra-Vehicular Activity. EVA Duration: 0.30 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Forrester; Swanson. Program: ISS. Flight: ISS EO-15; ISS EO-15-1; STS-117. The crew removed all of the launch locks on the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint in place. The spacewalkers had planned to remove the joint’s launch restraints as well, but problems with the wiring of a drive-lock assembly installed on the previous spacewalk led to that task being deferred to the next EVA.

2007 June 15 - .

STS-117 MCC Status Report #14 - .
Nation: USA. Related Persons: Reilly; Swanson; Olivas. Program: ISS. Flight: ISS EO-15; ISS EO-15-1; STS-117. Summary: Astronauts on space shuttle Atlantis are only hours from the week’s third spacewalk out of the International Space Station, a 6½-hour excursion to repair a thermal blanket on the orbiter and assist in folding up a solar array on the station.. Additional Details: here....

EVA STS-117-4 - .
Crew: Forrester; Swanson. EVA Type: Extra-Vehicular Activity. EVA Duration: 0.26 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Forrester; Swanson. Program: ISS. Flight: ISS EO-15; ISS EO-15-1; STS-117. The crew moved a video camera from the Quest module to the S3 truss. They verified the connections on the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint and removed its launch restraints. They then removed hardware along the S3 truss, clearing it for use by the tracked Mobile Base System. They then installed a computer network cable on the Unity node; opened the hydrogen vent valve on the Destiny laboratory installed on the previous EVA; and tethered two orbital debris shield panels on the station’s service module.

EVA STS-119-1 - .
Crew: Swanson; Arnold, Ricky. EVA Type: Extra-Vehicular Activity. EVA Duration: 0.25 days. Nation: USA. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-119. The crew exited from the Quest module at 17:12 GMT to mate the S6 truss to the end of the S5 truss on the station. S6, maneuvered by the station's robot arm, made contact with S5 at 18:17 GMT and was bolted in place by the astronauts at 19:06 GMT. The crew spent several hours in removing covers and making connection betwen the station and the S6 before returning to the Quest airlock at 23:20 GMT.